150 Josiah Wedgwood CHAP. 



with many of his patterns for Etruscan vases. At a 

 future period of his life, Hamilton was a frequent 

 correspondent with Wedgwood in his efforts to improve 

 English art. Sir William's first publication will remain 

 a monument of his patriotism and his taste ; but it 

 could not have been productive of its full and proper 

 advantages in improving the general taste without a 

 multiplication and diffusion of accurate copies of the 

 beautiful originals. And this Wedgwood, by his in- 

 dustry and discoveries, was enabled to perform with 

 advantage to himself and the public. 



The execution of such a work presented difficulties 

 which were at that time believed to be insurmountable. 

 The vases of ancient Etruria were painted with durable 

 colours burnt in by fire, but perfectly free from the 

 glossy or shining aspect of enamel paintings ; and the 

 application of these colours appears to have been, even 

 in the time of Pliny, one of the lost arts of preceding 

 ages. Wedgwood never would have attempted the 

 rediscovery of the lost art, if some previous experi- 

 ments of his own had not given him a glimpse of 

 success, which was at length, by perseverance, com- 

 pletely attained. His colours were fully as beautiful 

 as the originals, and susceptible of greater variety; 

 like these also, they possessed the advantage of never 

 spreading in the fire, or running out of drawing, as all 

 enamel colours must do, in a greater or less degree, in 

 consequence of their vitrifying and melting upon the 

 piece. 



